Who needs an electronic signature and how to get it - Lifehacker

An electronic signature (ES) is a way to confirm the identity of a person without his presence. For this, information in digital form is used instead of an autograph.

ThreeFederal Law of 06.04.2011 N 63-FZ types of electronic signatures, which differ in the degree of protection and areas where they are used: simple electronic signature, enhanced qualified and enhanced unqualified. Let's analyze each of the options.

What is a simple electronic signature

This is a combination of data that allows you to understand that it is you who are sending information or performing an operation. A bunch of login and password works in this capacity, codes from SMS etc. You, without noticing it, use such a signature almost every day. It is suitable for simple operations like authorization on a website, sending complaints to departments.

Sometimes a simple EP can be equatedFederal Law of 06.04.2011 N 63-FZ to your own. This happens if for some case it is provided for by a separate law or you personally signed an agreement with someone with whom you will interact using a simple signature.

For example, you conclude an agreement with a bank and receive a debit card. Come with a passport, sign an agreement, one of the conditions of which is the use of a mobile application. Now you can open, say credit the account is right there. Your electronic signature - a set of characters for entering the application and an SMS-code - is enough to complete this operation. And if you suddenly stop paying on the loan, the bank will be able to go to court, since this transaction has legal significance.

A simple signature is quite vulnerable, and therefore not suitable for important property documents. Due to the low level of security, there is practically no point in it for business: to interact with government agencies it will not work with it, but identification methods can be used for internal workflow simpler. For example, even a simple email from a specific address canCan the sender's address of an incoming email be read as a simple electronic signature of the sender? consider a simple electronic signature if you have agreed on this in advance.

How to get

To do this, you need to register and go through identification in the structure for which a simple electronic signature is intended. For example, sign an agreement, as in the example with the bank. A simple electronic signature for "Public services»You get when you go through the identification in the certification center or enter the code received by mail.

What is an unqualified enhanced electronic signature

An unqualified reinforced EP is a little more complicated than a simple one. It consists of two strings of symbols: an electronic signature key and a key to verify it. The connection between them is formed by means of cryptographic information protection. Therefore, this signature is less vulnerable than a simple one. It confirms that it was you who signed the document and the text has not changed since that moment. The ES key is usually stored on a USB-stick or in cloud. The first option is, for obvious reasons, safer, as cloud storage can be hacked.

Unqualified enhanced ES is still not an analogue of a handwritten signature. But it can be considered it if the participants in the workflow conclude an agreement on this. True, it will acquire legal significance only for the parties to such an agreement.

A simple example is filing a tax return on the FTS website. You can issue an unqualified electronic signature right there. However, you can use it only to send documents to the tax office.

For businessmen, an unqualified enhanced electronic signature is suitable to exchange papers with partners and contractors. But there are two "buts". First, agreements must be made with them. Secondly, the functionality of such an electronic signature is still limited, so it makes sense to receive it only with a large volume of document flow. And still there will be more sense from a qualified signature.

How to get

Instructions on how to get an unqualified electronic signature for an individual to interact with the Federal Tax Service are in text about tax deduction. In general, there is no regulation on who can generate such signatures. So you can get the ES in the certifying center, accredited by the state, and do it yourself or with the help of a familiar IT-specialist.

What is a Qualified Enhanced Electronic Signature

This is the queen of electronic signatures. Documents executed with its help are equated to those that are signed with your own hand. Therefore, with a qualified reinforced electronic device, you can remotely sell property, participate in tenders, interact with departments - in general, do everything that is available during a personal visit.

This type of signature is the most secure. It is issued only at a certification center accredited by the state. The Office provides a verification key certificate that guarantees the authenticity of the signature. It is issued in electronic format. To work with the signature, you will also need to install special software. Which one - it is better to find out at the certification center.

It sounds great, but there is a caveat: the service is paid. Moreover, the signature is valid for 12 to 15 months, and you need to update it for money. You will have to pay separately for certified electronic media. The cost depends on the certification center, region, your status (natural or legal person), the purposes for which you will use the ES. On average, registration will cost about 2–3 thousand rubles, renewal is cheaper.

Most individuals can easily do without a qualified electronic signature. For ordinary life situations, it is not needed. But it will greatly brighten the life of those who lead business, signs and sends many documents, reports to departments and so on.

How to get

Contact a certification center. You can check if he has accreditation at website Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications. An individual will need an identity card, SNILS and TIN. If a person is registered as an individual entrepreneur, you must additionally provide the main state registration number of the record of registration as an individual entrepreneur. To get an ES for a legal entity, you must bring:

• constituent documents;
• a document confirming the fact of making an entry about a legal entity in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities;
• certificate of registration with the tax authority.

Usually, an application is left on the center's website in advance. In response, the organization sends an application form for receiving an electronic signature and an invoice for payment. Then it remains to personally go to the center with the documents to receive a signature certificate. EP is usually done in one day.